Dear Friend,
New York is still outraged by the Zimmerman verdict, but encouraged by the tremendous numbers and diversity of people who rallied today at One Police Plaza in support of Trayvon's family and demand for change.
As we insist on the repeal of "Stand-Your-Ground" in other parts of the country, we must also abandon "Stop-and-Frisk" here in New York City. We must confront the pervasive but misguided notion that young people of color must be up to no good, a presumption of guilt until proven innocent. This same mindset rationalizes the "Stop-and-Frisk" tactic.
To create change across the nation, let's start right here in New York City and put an end to "Stop-and-Frisk".
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WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Campaign That Never Rests" - 7/5/2013
EXCERPT - Mr. Liu is the most stridently anti-Mayor Michael Bloomberg candidate in the Democratic field. He wants to abolish the police practice of stop and frisk, not change it like his opponents.
THE NATION: "The Powerful Lesson of New York's Police Oversight Law" - 7/3/2013
EXCERPT - It is well established that Democratic candidate John Liu is his party’s most outspoken critic of stop-and-frisk and the surveillance of Muslim communities.
WNET CHANNEL 13: "MetroFocus Full Episode: NYC Mayoral Candidate John Liu" - 6/26/2013
EXCERPT - On stop and frisk: "It’s creating a huge amount of distrust and a separation between the community and the police. When that happens its more difficult for the police to do their job and everybody is less safe."
NEW YORK TIMES: "Public Safety and the Mayor’s Race" - 4/25/2013
EXCERPT - John Liu, the current comptroller, yelled, "Stop and frisk in New York City is the biggest form of systemic racial profiling we have anywhere in the United States of America, and it has to be ended."
WNYC: "Mayoral Candidates Talk Public Safety Post-Bloomberg" - 3/20/2013
EXCERPT - City Comptroller John Liu is the only mayoral candidate calling for an end to stop-and-frisk.